The Duke of Richmond succeeded on Monday night in doing
a most mischievous thing,—in reopening the question of Purchase in a manner almo-t fatal to discipline. He demanded a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the grievances of officers arising from the abolition of Purchase, and expressed in 2,245 memorials to the Commander-in-Chief. One wonders what Von Moltke, or Mar- shal Niel, or even the Duke of Wellington would have said to such a combination ; but the Duke of Cambridge only encouraged it, by quoting it as proof that there was great " discontent in the Army,"—that is, in the section of it who hold - Commissions. A similar protest about money from non- commissioned officers would have been met with the sternest of
reprimands, yet what is the difference, except that the officer can resign if he likes, and the non-commissioned officer cannot? Lord Lansdowne wasted a little time in trying to show that the discontent was not general, or otherwise officers would leave ; but the, whole affair had been prearranged and the motion was carried by 129 to 46. We shall never have Army Reform till an Artilleryman, or Engineer, or other educated and non-purchase officer becomes Commander-in-Chief.
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